Decorative light structure



Sept. 14, 1937. A. STECHBART 2,092,785

DECORATIVE LIGHT STRUCTURE Filed March 16, 1936 rzkz/enzr Patented Sept. 14, 1937 l' D} [STATES PATENT or-Fles DECORATIVE LIGHT STRUGTURE Arthur 'Stechbart, Chicago, Ill., assignor to Matchless Electric Company,- Chicago, 111., a

corporation of Illinois Application March 16,

' 4 Claims.

" .This invention relates to decorative light fixtures-of the character shown in the copending application of Paul C. Dittman, Serial No. 19,417, fiI'edMay'Z, 1935, now Patent No.'2,063,153.

The present invention is' directed to an improvement in devices of this character calculated to facilitate the dispersion of light in the crystals of which-this structure is composed.

The invention further contemplates a novel combination of 'a single'row of elongated pointed crystals with a central ornament and. means to mounting the same'upon a light bulb.

In devices of this character, the ornament to produce its best decorative effect is viewed from the front so that the various points of the crystals appear as radially disposed. The attractiveness 'of the structure is greatly enhanced by increasing the light display in a direction in which the device is to be viewed. The light, however, is sent into the crystals in a direction which approaches a perpendicular to the line of vision.

1936, Serial No; 69,090 (01. 240-10) least one face of the crystal before it can be directed outwardly from the crystal. In other Words, the faces of the crystals are so cut that light entering the crystals from the light source I5 first strikes a'face at. an angle of less'than 41 degrees. Preferably the angles of the several faces, except the cut off face 13, with respect to.

the long axis of the crystal are made substantially 20 degrees. Thus nine of these' crystals maybe arranged around a central point with their adjacent sides-substantially parallel out vto the larg-r v est crosssectional diameter of the crystal,

The crystal structureqwhen viewed from the front, as shown in Fig. 1, must be so arranged that the several points of the crystals appear. to I extend outwardly to a sufficient degree to give a pleasing star appearance. This means; however, that light entering at the inner ends of the crystals will be directed outwardly as well as forwardly if the axes of the crystals are arranged.

in a. common n-lanelabout the li ht source as a the crystal over this area.

the light rays travel from the light source through the cut off end of the crystal and how they are reflected from one of the outer faces of the crystal so as to escape from an opposite face. The line indicated at A in Fig. 2, it will be noted, is reflected almost parallel to the line of vision so that it is directed straight forward from the face of the crystal l4. Owing to the tilting of the crystals l2 in the row 8, it is obvious that a greater number of light rays, or in other words,

a greater amount of light, will be directed against the back or rearwardly facing half of the crystals for reflecting in a forward direction than will be directed toward the front half of the crystals for reflecting in a rearwardly direction;

Thus the light rays are not only directed toward the observer of the ornament, but also a greater number of light rays are directed toward the observer as a result of the tipping of the crystals out of a plane at right angles to the line of vision. That portion of the crystal between where the line A intersects the front face I4 and the inner end of the crystal does notappear illuminated when the ornament is viewed from the front. This is because practically no light rays are being projected from the faces of .The: resultant effect, therefore, is to cause the crystals to appear to have illuminated tips.

The central ornament 9 is also preferably cut with suitable faces, but it, of course, merely acts to transmit, light without any control by reflection. The mounting ring H! has a series of fingers l6 formed thereon and extending forwardly to engage over a shoulder I? which extends around the central ornament 9. The ring 10 has its body portion substantially frusto conical in shape. The ring Ill also has a series of crystal holding fingers I8 which fingers extend between the several crystals and are adapted to be hooked around the wire I l as illustrated in Fig. 2, the free end portions of the fingers I8 being substantially hook shaped. In order to secure the row 8 of crystals and the central ornament 9 to the base 6, I provide in the flange [3 a series of holes |9,.20, and 2! arrangedapproximately 120 degrees apart around the flange I3. I then extend three of the fingers l8 to provide elongated securing strips 22, 23, and 24. These securing strips are projected through the openings I9, 20, and 2| and bent out as shown best in Fig. 2 to hold the crystals securely upon the base 6.

From the above description, it is believed that the construction and operation of this device will be readily apparent to those skilled in this art. It is also believed to be obvious that various minor modifications may be made from the exact details shown and described without departing from the scope of the invention as defined in the claims.

Having thus described one specific form of my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. A decorative light structure comprising in combination, a light bulb, a light transmitting and display structure comprising a plurality of elongated pointed crystals arranged in a ring about said bulb with their long axes extending in a general radial direction with respect to the bulb as a center, means for securing said crystals in position on said bulb, said means comprising a member supporting a central ornament and having securing strips thereon projecting between the crystals, and a base on said bulb to *which said securing strips are detachably connected.

2. A decorative light structure of the character described comprising a light bulb, a supporting base thereon having a radially directed flange, a row of elongated pointed crystals resting on said flange and arranged circumferentially about said light bulb, a central ornament over the top of said light bulb and the inner ends of said crystals, and a securing ring having fingers disposed between said crystals and spacing the same, certain of said fingers also extending through said base flange for securing the crystals to the base.

3. A decorative light structure comprising in combination a light bulb, a crystal supporting base encircling said bulb and having an annular flange, an annular row of crystals resting on said flange, said crystals having their inner ends adjacent to the bulb and increasing in cross section outward through a substantial portion of their length, and having outwardly extended portions decreasing in cross section substantially to points at their outer ends, means securing said crystals to each other and to said flange, said extending in a generally radial direction with respect to the center of the annulus, means securing the inner ends of said crystals together, and a central ornament adapted to extend over the end of a light bulb encircled by said annulus, a rigid mounting ring having means thereon for holding said central ornament and having fingers extending between said elongated crystals, said fingers being engaged with said securing means, whereby to attach the crystals to said ring, certain of said fingers being extended between the crystals and beyond them on the opposite side from said ring to provide fastening means for fastening said light structure upon a light bulb.

ARTHUR STECHBART. 

